Wig block holder

ABSTRACT

An improved block holder capable of securely affixing a mannequin head form to a tabletop and for rotatably varying the position of the head form by means of a handle. The holder comprises four separable parts, a clamping device to be secured to the edge of a table, a ball socket connection provided with a standard receivable in a recess in the head block, a pressure plate which rests on the ball and slidably interconnects and is activated by a handle. Movement of the handle in a downward position locks the ball in position whereas upward movement of said handle permits the ball to rotate freely into other positions.

United States Patent [72] inventor Louis Schumer 5402 Beverly Road, Brooklyn, NY. 11203 21 Appl. No. 847.54 221 Filed Aug. 4, 1969 [45] Patented June 22. 197i [54] W16 BLOCK HOLDER 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. 7

[52] [1.8. CI 248/226, 287/12, 248/288 [51] Int. Cl A47j 5/10, A47j 8/00 [50] Field of Search 248/226.l, 229, 48l,482,483, 181-,287/12; 269/75; 403/4128, 4174, 4468, 4576 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 658,9ll 10/1900 Hall 248/l8l 2,731,863 H1956 Bellows 248/229UX 3,424,4[9 1/1969 Siegel 248/226(.l)

Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorneys-Edith R. T. Grill and Murray M. Grill ABSTRACT: An improved block holder capable of securely.

affixing a mannequin head form to a tabletop and for rotatably varying the position of the head form by means of a handle. The holder comprises four separable parts, a clamping device to be secured to the edge of a table, a ball socket connection provided with a standard receivable in a recess in the head block, a pressure plate which rests on the ball and slidably interconnects and is activated by a handle Movement of the handle in a downward position locks the ball in position whereas upward movement of said handle permits the ball to rotate freely into other positions.

PATENTEUJUH22197I 35 6,2531

INVENTOR. LOUIS SCHUMER 61am, 7? GALZZ ATTORNEY W16 BLOCK HOLDER This invention relates to novel block holders to facilitate dressing and displaying wigs, wiglets, falls and wearing apparel.

The prior art is replete with a variety of block holders and/or supports to be utilized in dressing or displaying wigs. The basic clamping device of the past has been modified and made intricate so that the average individual user finds it difficult to dress her own wig. The prior art devices have become expensive due to the additional parts and/or intricate modifications thereof.

lt has now been found that the basic clamping device can be readily and cheaply manufactured out of four interconnecting separable and replaceable parts, which can easily be operated by the average consumer. The simple movement ofa handle is capable of rotatably altering the position of a head block mounted on said block holder which remains securely affixed to a tabletop by means of a clamping action.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a support and holder of simple and inexpensive construction capable of being securely affixed to a table top.

Another object of this invention is to provide a block holder means for the entire block holder assembly. Upright wall 17 is provided with an opening 26 for insertion of flange 27 of pressure plate 12. Clamp base interconnects pressure plate 12 and handle 13 and provides a seat for ball and socket connection 1].

Ball and socket connection 11 comprises a ball member 31 integrally formed with an upwardly projecting standard 32 which is preferably conically or frustoconically shaped (as shown in FIG. 3) to fit snugly into a similarly shaped recess in the mannequin head. The ridges 33 of standard 32 affords a more firm, frictional and snug engagement of the standard within the recess of the mannequin head. The lower end of ball 31 is rotatably movable in fixed socket 34 which is integral with base 35. Socket 34 is internally rounded to frictionally fit round ball 31. This connection permits rotation of capable of supporting a head block in a variety of selected positions by the simple movement of a lever or handle.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a block holder for a mannequin head having a conical recess comprising four interconnecting separable parts secured by a single securing means, a clamp base for fixedly securing to a tabletop comprising a roof and a floor connected by a sidewall whereby said tabletop is gripped between said floor and roof by means of a threaded stud which threadedly engages a threaded opening in said floor for adjustment to the thickness of said tabletop, said roof being provided with an upwardly extending wall situated opposite said sidewall; a ball and socket connection seated on the roof of aforesaid clamp base comprising a ball with an integrally formed upwardly projecting standard for frictional engagement within the recess of said mannequin head, the lower end of said ball frictionally seated and rotatably movable within a fixed socket; a pressure plate seated on aforesaid ball and activated by a handle which alternately exerts and releases pressure on aforesaid ball to afford fixed pivotal variations in.the positions of the mannequin head.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification in connection with the drawing in which FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the handle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the clamp base.

FIG. 3 is a front elevatiohal view of the ball and socket connection with certain parts broken away for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the pressure plate.

HO. 5 is a prospective view of the assembled block holder of the instant invention.

Referring to the drawings, the instant block holder is composed of four interconnecting separable parts constructed of suitable rigid material such as metal or plastic or mixtures thereof and includes a clamp base 10 as shown by P16. 2, a ball and socket connection 11 as shown by FIG. 3, a pressure plate 12 as shown by P16. 4 and a handle 13 as shown by FIG. 1 secured by means of a threaded bolt 14 having an enlarged head which threadedly engages a threaded wing nut 15.

The clamp base 10 comprises roof 16 and floor 18 connected by sidewall 19. Roof 16 is additionally provided with an upwardly extending wall 17 opposite sidewall 19. Floor 18 is provided with a threaded opening 20 which threadedly engages threaded stud 21 provided with enlarged head 22 and a gripping or handle portion 23 for adjustment to the thickness of the tabletop to which the block holder is attached. Enlarged head 22 exerts pressure on the underside of the table top whereas roof 16 exerts pressure on the upper surface of the tabletop vis-a-vis a clamp. Sidewall 19 is provided with an opening 24 which coincides with opening 25 on handle 13 through which boltld and wingnut 15 secure handle 13 to clamp base 10. Bolt 14 and wingnut 15 are also the securing the mannequin head into innumerable positions.v The ease with which said rotatable movement can be made by simply moving the base of said headblock permits a dressed wig to retain its setting intact while such movement is made. It is not necessary to grip the top or side of said head in order to alter its position.

Pressure plate 12 which is activated by handle 13 is provided with flange 28 which slidably engages a slot 29 of handle 13, and is also provided with spherical opening 30 through which ball 31 and standard 32.protrude. Pressure plate 12 interconnects all the parts of the holder assembly and provides the releasable locking means for releasably locking the ball and socket members against internal movement.

Handle 13 interconnects clamp base 10 via opening 25 and pressure plate 12 via slot 29, and activates pressure plate 12 by means of lever 36. The downward movement of lever 36 exerts pressure on pressure plate 13 which rests on ball 31 to lock the ball into a fixed position. Similarly, the upward movement of lever 36 releases the pressure on pressure plate 13 to permit free rotation of ball 31 within socket 34. Thus, it is apparent that the simple upward or downward movement of the handle affords the user with a simple means for rotatably fixing a variety of head positions without releasing or otherwise interfering with the fixed position of the block holder.

ln addition, the interconnecting separable parts of this holder assembly permits shipping of said block holder in a broken-down state which has the advantage of compactness, cheapness and ease of assembly at the destination. Furthermore, should one part break, it can be readily and easily replaced with another like part which is cheap and easier than replacing a complex holder. Another advantage resides in the ease with which each of the separable parts can be manufactured, thereby rendering it more economical. Still another advantage resides in the absence of myriad screws, nuts, springs and other small easily misplaceable parts.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments and examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of this invention can be made and that equivalents can be substituted therefor without departing from the principles and true spirit of the invention.

What I claim by Letters Patent is:

l. A block holder for a mannequin head having a conical recess comprising four interconnecting separable parts secured by a single securing means: a clamp base for fixedly securing to a table top comprising a roof and a floor connected by a sidewall whereby said table top is gripped between said floor and roof by means of a threaded stud which threadedly engages a threaded opening in said floor for adjustment to the thickness of said tabletop, said roof being provided with an upwardly extending wall situated opposite said sidewall; a ball and socket connection seated on the roof of aforesaid clamp base comprising a ball with an integrally formed upwardly projecting standard for frictional engagement within the recess of the mannequin head, the lower end of said ball frictionally seated and rotatably movable within a fixed socket; a pressure plate seated on aforesaid ball and activated by a handle which alternately exerts and releases pres- 2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said pressure plate is provided with a spherical opening through which the upper portion of the ball bearing the integral upwardly extending standard protrude.

3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein the socket in the ball and socket connection is internally rounded to frictionally fit the rounded under surface of the ball member. 

1. A block holder for a mannequin head having a conical recess comprising four interconnecting separable parts secured by a single securing means: a clamp base for fixedly securing to a table top comprising a roof and a floor connected by a sidewall whereby said table top is gripped between said floor and roof by means of a threaded stud which threadedly engages a threaded opening in said floor for adjustment to the thickness of said tabletop, said roof being provided with an upwardly extending wall situated opposite said sidewall; a ball and socket connection seated on the roof of aforesaid clamp base comprising a ball with an integrally formed upwardly projecting standard for frictional engagement within the recess of the mannequin head, the lower end of said ball frictionally seated and rotatably movable within a fixed socket; a pressure plate seated on aforesaid ball and activated by a handle which alternately exerts and releases pressure on aforesaid ball to afford fixed pivotal variations in the position of the mannequin head, said single securing means comprising a threaded bolt which threadedly engages a threaded wingnut inserted through complementary openings in the sidewall of the clamp base and the handle, said pressure plate being provided with oppositely positioned outwardly extending flanges adapted to engage openings respectively in the upwardly extending wall of the clamp base and the handle.
 2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said pressure plate is provided with a spherical opening through which the upper portion of the ball bearing the integral upwardly extending standard protrude.
 3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein the socket in the ball and socket connection is internally rounded to frictionally fit the rounded under surface of the ball member. 